Top 5 EP's of 2021

5. Sullen Eyes – Sullen Eyes

Beauty personified! Sublime jangly pop worthy of any Hannah Barberas or Concretes fan. Complete with the second-best cover of ‘There She Goes’, Boo Radleys still holds that crown.

4. Pastel – Deeper Than Holy

From the featherlight licks of ‘Blu’ to The Verve-esque power of ‘Deeper Than Holy’, the potential of this band is endless. (Full review)

3. Real Numbers – Brighter Then

Sarah’s Records spirit is reawakened to fine effect.

2. In Earnest – Reasons To Stay Alive

This band and EP deserve your respect if nothing else. They are a triumph of the human spirit. This is the most selfless piece of art you will engage in of 2021. (Full review)

1. The Utopiates – Anywhere But Here

The spiralling swagger of the Mondays is given a new lease of hedonistic life and John Squire blasts to produce the magical results. (Full review)

Top 10 EPs 2020

EPs, much like the start of Spring, offer more excitement than albums. It’s the little offshoots green that flood the senses with dreams and hope. No matter the circumstances of 2020, the creative spirit just keeps on keeping on.

Here are our 10 favourites of 2020:

10. Yellow Melodies – Sunshine Pop

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From Del Shannon to Scott Walker to the fledgling days of The Wolfhounds, The Yellow Melodies continue to light up the past with a new vibrancy.

It should come as no surprise that ‘C86 e Indiepop’ is the EP’s standout moment. Forever indebted to that era, they summon the punchy freedom of ‘Anti-Midas Touch’, the adorableness of ‘Part Time Punks’, and the engaging defiance of ‘E102’.

9. Fast Blood – Fast Blood

Newcastle’s Fast Blood blew the doors off with their debut EP this year.

‘You’ is a joyride of punk from the anthemic locker of Von Bondies and Descendants. The viscous garage rock guitars are a joyously savage assault on the senses.

Meanwhile, ‘Milo’ showcased an ability to bare their soul to the sound of Idlewild and The Pixies.

8. Come At The King Take To The Streets

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London trio Come At The King returned in November with their best work to date.

A fluidity and unifying spirit permeated their natural talent for aggressive garage rock. A huge step up!

7. Yard Arms – Sanctuary Arms

Take note of this band now, for soon, they will be icons on bedroom walls!

The effortless majesty of ‘Matra’ will blow away contempt for 2020. Meanwhile, ‘These Four Walls’ harks back to the criminally overlooked genius of iForward Russia via The Cure

6. In Earnest – In Earnest

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In Earnest have the songs, they have the talent but, crucially, they have the one thing stadium selling artists can spend a lifetime grappling with. Truth. Their tracks read like diary entries and serve as thought-provoking pieces of art.

5. Beat Hotel – Beat Hotel

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Beat Hotel may only be seen as often as a Snow Leopard but, they are no less beautiful. Anyone emotionally attached to the Children of Nuggets' era, should open their hearts to this EP.

4. Rooskin – Honey Spells

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Southend’s Rooskin hazily defines what is it to be young. Carefree and lost, it meanders its way to failed relationships with drugs and people alike.

The quest for identity is the sound of being a teenager. Running full throttle into regret in those defining years is romanticised with aplomb here.

3. Spector -  Extended Play

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Getting older has never sounded so good. Fred Machpherson’s band of rebels returned with alt-pop sent from the heavens.

You won’t find anything lyrically more amusing than this!

2. Peter Hall – There’s Something Wrong With Everyone

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Despite the debut status, Hall emerges with a class, usually associated with someone making their third album masterpiece.

There is something beautifully scouse about his music. ‘Hold Me’ and ‘Blood Flow’ enter an alternate reality where Sice (The Boo Radleys) is backed by Crosby Stills and Nash’s harmonies. Meanwhile, ‘Everything Is Fading Fast’ has Shack’s forlorn jangle combining with The Stands’ Howie Payne vocals.

1. Captain Handsome – I Am Not An Animal

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Fightmilk’s Lily Rae stepped away from the band at the start of 2020 to release a debut EP.

Aching melancholy, relationship trauma, and self-doubt form the discourse on this incredibly personal journey. Intertwining folk from all eras, this EP creates something timeless and, instantly loveable.